Learning Targets

Discuss the impact of biotic and abiotic factors on their environment and the significant ecological levels of organization.

Explain the difference between an organism’s habitat and niche and how these are determined by the characteristics of an ecosystem.

Describe how species interact with one another in biological communities, such as competition, predation, and symbiotic relationships.

Introduction to

Ecology

What is Ecology?

Ecology- the study of interactions

between:

organisms and organisms

organisms and their environment

Where do we fit in?

(What is our environment?)

The Biosphere: Water, Land, Air,

and Rock!

Factors that effect us:

1. Abiotic Factors

Wind/Air currentsMoisture

Soil

Light

Temperature

A- stands for non

Bio- stands for living

Abiotic Factors- nonliving factors

2. Biotic Factors:

Biotic- Living factors

What is the organization of Ecological

Study?

Population

Community

Ecosystem

Biosphere

Organism

Levels of Organization

Individual- one

organism (living)

Ex. a moose

Levels of Organization

Population-groups of individuals that belong to the species and live in the same area. (living-living same species)

Ex. many moose

Levels of Organization

Community- groups of different populations (more than one population or different groups of species)

Ex. many groups of moose, beavers, trees, grass (all living)

Levels of Organization

Ecosystem- all organisms in a particular area along with the nonliving. (living and nonliving)

Ex. many groups of moose, beavers, trees, grass, rocks, water, mountains

Levels of Organization Biome- group of

ecosystems that have the same climate and similar dominant communities

Biomes: tropical rain forest, tropical dry forest, tropical savannah, temperate grassland, desert, temperate woodland and shrubland, temperate forest, northwestern coniferous forest, boreal forest (taiga), tundra, mountains and ice caps

Levels of Organization

Biosphere- all of

the planet where

life exists, includes

land, water, and

air

Life extends 8 km

up and 11 km

below the surface

IN AN ECOSYSTEM:

Organisms live in a Habitat

Organisms fit into a Niche of the environment

Habitat vs. Niche Habitat- an area where an organism lives

Niche- an organisms role in its environment The Long Version full range of physical and

biological conditions in which an organism lives and the way in which the organism uses those conditions. Includes where in the food chain it is, where an organism feeds

Habitat is like an address in an ecosystem and a niche is like an occupation in an ecosystem.

Community Interactions

when organisms live together in an

ecological community they interact

constantly.

Three types of interactions

Competition

Predation

Symbiosis

Competition- competing for resources

occurs due to a limited number of resources

Resource- any necessity of life. water, nutrients, light, food.

Competitive exclusion principle- no two species can occupy the same niche in the same habitat at the same time

PredationPredation- when

an organism captures and feeds on another organism.

Predator- hunter

Prey- hunted

Symbiosis

Symbiosis- any relationship where two

species live closely together. (3 types)

Mutualism

Commensalism

Parasitism

Symbiosis

Mutualism- both

species benefit

from a

relationship.

Lichens (fungus

and Algae)

Symbiosis Commensalism – One

member of a symbiotic relationship benefits and the other is neither helped or harmed

Ex. Holes used by bluebirds in a tree were chiseled out by woodpeckers after it has been abandoned .

Symbiosis

Parasitism- One creature benefits and one creature is harmed

Ex tapeworm. Feeds in a humans intestines absorbing his/her nutrients.

Relationships: Symbiosis = Living Together

a) commensalism

b) mutualism

c) parasitism

Ecological Equivalents

Unrelated organisms that occupy similar

habitats and resemble each other.